Lord, Let It Alone This Year Also (Luke 13:6-9)

2023-12-24

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9)

Herein is the patience of God. The Lord did not come merely to save human beings only to be dormant. He came to save us from our sins. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

But even that is only part of the story. He saves us to bear good fruit. There is an expected return on investment. The fig tree exists to give figs. If it does not, it is taken away because it takes up space and resources that could be used for trees that will bear fruit. If we do not bear fruit, we likewise are wasting space, time, and resources.

The good news is that the Lord does everything to ensure that we bear fruit. He gives us all the resources we need, represented here by digging and dunging. We need this. This parable is represented also by the vine and branches in John 15:1-8. There is lifting of branches and pruning and the like, to ensure that the branch remains in the vine, where the source of life is.

Seek the Lord, that we may bear Him much fruit. If we do not bear fruit, well, there is nothing left for us but to be removed from the earth.

The analogy works both for the individual, the church, and the nation, and perhaps any other entity that calls itself a servant of the Lord.